AQW 11201/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 30/11/2020
Answered On Date: 29/12/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs why cosmetics containing plastic micro beads are still on sale in Northern Ireland, despite having been banned by the UK Government.

Answer:

The manufacture and sale of rinse-off cosmetic products containing plastic microbeads was banned in Northern Ireland by The Environmental Protection (Microbeads) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019. The ban is enforced by local councils. It does not apply to products which wear off.

It would be helpful if you could provide to joe.breen@daera-ni.gov.uk details of the product you are referring to and where it was purchased/displayed. It would also be helpful if you could supply an image of the ingredients so officials can refer the matter to the relevant local authority, if appropriate.